Wireless position sensor
First Claim
1. Apparatus for tracking an object, comprising:
- a plurality of field generators, adapted to generate electromagnetic fields at different, respective frequencies in a vicinity of the object;
a radio frequency (RF) driver, adapted to radiate a RF driving field toward the object;
a wireless transponder, fixed to the object, the transponder comprising;
at least one sensor coil, coupled so that an electrical current flows in the at least one sensor coil responsive to the electromagnetic fields;
a control circuit, coupled to the at least one sensor coil so as to generate an output signal indicative of the current; and
a power coil, coupled to receive the RF driving field and to convey electrical energy from the driving field to the control circuit, and further coupled to transmit the output signal generated by the control circuit; and
a signal receiver, adapted to receive the output signal transmitted by the power coil and, responsive thereto, to determine coordinates of the object.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for tracking an object includes a plurality of field generators, which generate electromagnetic fields at different, respective frequencies in a vicinity of the object, and a radio frequency (RF) driver, which radiates a RF driving field toward the object. A wireless transponder is fixed to the object. The transponder includes at least one sensor coil, in which a signal current flows responsive to the electromagnetic fields, and a power coil, which receives the RF driving field and conveys electrical energy from the driving field to power the transponder. The power coil also transmits an output signal responsive to the signal current to a signal receiver, which processes the signal to determine coordinates of the object.
555 Citations
49 Claims
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1. Apparatus for tracking an object, comprising:
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a plurality of field generators, adapted to generate electromagnetic fields at different, respective frequencies in a vicinity of the object;
a radio frequency (RF) driver, adapted to radiate a RF driving field toward the object;
a wireless transponder, fixed to the object, the transponder comprising;
at least one sensor coil, coupled so that an electrical current flows in the at least one sensor coil responsive to the electromagnetic fields;
a control circuit, coupled to the at least one sensor coil so as to generate an output signal indicative of the current; and
a power coil, coupled to receive the RF driving field and to convey electrical energy from the driving field to the control circuit, and further coupled to transmit the output signal generated by the control circuit; and
a signal receiver, adapted to receive the output signal transmitted by the power coil and, responsive thereto, to determine coordinates of the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for tracking an object, comprising:
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a radio frequency (RF) driver, adapted to radiate a RF driving field toward the object at a driving frequency;
one or more field generators, adapted to generate electromagnetic fields in a vicinity of the object at respective field frequencies, in synchronization with the driving frequency;
a wireless transponder, fixed to the object, the transponder comprising;
at least one sensor coil, coupled so that an electrical current flows in the at least one sensor coil responsive to the electromagnetic fields;
a control circuit, coupled to the at least one sensor coil so as to generate an output signal indicative of the current; and
a power coil, coupled to receive the RF driving field and to convey electrical energy from the driving field to the control circuit, and further coupled to transmit the output signal generated by the control circuit; and
a signal receiver, adapted to receive the output signal transmitted by the power coil and, responsive thereto, to determine coordinates of the object. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for tracking an object, comprising:
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a radio frequency (RF) driver, adapted to radiate a RF driving field toward the object;
one or more field generators, adapted to generate electromagnetic fields in a vicinity of the object;
a wireless transponder, fixed to the object, the transponder comprising;
at least one sensor coil, coupled so that an electrical current flows in the at least one sensor coil responsive to the electromagnetic fields;
a control circuit, coupled to the at least one sensor coil so as to generate an output signal indicative of an amplitude of the current and of a phase of the current relative to a phase of the electromagnetic fields; and
a power coil, coupled to receive the RF driving field and to convey electrical energy from the driving field to the control circuit, and further coupled to transmit the output signal generated by the control circuit; and
a signal receiver, adapted to receive the output signal transmitted by the power coil and, responsive to the amplitude and phase of the current indicated by the output signal, to determine an orientation of the object. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. Apparatus for tracking an object, comprising:
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a radio frequency (RF) driver, adapted to radiate a RF driving field toward the object;
one or more field generators, adapted to generate electromagnetic fields in a vicinity of the object;
a wireless transponder, fixed to the object, the transponder comprising;
at least one sensor coil, coupled so that an electrical current flows in the at least one sensor coil responsive to the electromagnetic fields;
a voltage-to-frequency (V/F) converter, coupled to the at least one sensor coil so as to generate an output signal with an output frequency that varies responsive to an amplitude of the electrical current flowing in the at least one sensor coil; and
a power coil, coupled to receive the RF driving field and to convey electrical energy from the driving field to the control circuit, and further coupled to transmit the output signal generated by the control circuit; and
a signal receiver, adapted to receive the output signal transmitted by the power coil and, responsive to the output frequency, to determine coordinates of the object. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A wireless position transponder for operation inside a body of a subject, the transponder comprising:
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at least one sensor coil, coupled so that an electrical current flows in the at least one sensor coil responsive to one or more electromagnetic fields applied to the body in a vicinity of the transponder;
a voltage-to-frequency (V/F) converter, coupled to the at least one sensor coil so as to generate an output signal with an output frequency that varies responsive to an amplitude of the electrical current flowing in the at least one sensor coil, such that the output frequency is indicative of coordinates of the transponder inside the body; and
a power coil, adapted to receive a radio frequency (RF) driving field applied to the body in the vicinity of the transponder, and coupled to convey electrical energy from the driving field to the control circuit, and further coupled to transmit the output signal generated by the control circuit so that the signal can be received by processing circuitry outside the body for use in determining the coordinates. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for tracking an object, comprising:
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positioning a plurality of field generators so as to generate electromagnetic fields at different, respective frequencies in a vicinity of the object;
positioning a radio frequency (RF) driver to radiate a RF driving field toward the object;
fixing to the object a wireless transponder comprising at least one sensor coil and a power coil, so that an electrical current flows in the at least one sensor coil responsive to the electromagnetic fields;
receiving the RF driving field using the power coil so as to derive electrical energy therefrom;
generating an output signal at the wireless transponder indicative of the current flowing in the sensor coil, using the electrical energy derived from the RF driving field by the power coil;
transmitting the output signal from the wireless transponder using the power coil; and
receiving and processing the output signal to determine coordinates of the object. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for tracking an object, comprising:
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positioning a radio frequency (RF) driver to radiate a RF driving field toward the object at a driving frequency;
positioning one or more field generators so as to generate electromagnetic fields in a vicinity of the object at respective field frequencies, in synchronization with the driving frequency;
fixing to the object a wireless transponder comprising at least one sensor coil and a power coil, so that an electrical current flows in the at least one sensor coil responsive to the electromagnetic fields;
receiving the RF driving field using the power coil so as to derive electrical energy therefrom;
generating an output signal at the wireless transponder indicative of the current flowing in the sensor coil, using the electrical energy derived from the RF driving field by the power coil;
transmitting the output signal from the wireless transponder using the power coil; and
receiving and processing the output signal to determine coordinates of the object. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for tracking an object, comprising:
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positioning a radio frequency (RF) driver to radiate a RF driving field toward the object;
positioning one or more field generators so as to generate electromagnetic fields in a vicinity of the object;
fixing to the object a wireless transponder comprising at least one sensor coil and a power coil, so that an electrical current flows in the at least one sensor coil responsive to the electromagnetic fields;
receiving the RF driving field using the power coil so as to derive electrical energy therefrom;
generating an output signal at the wireless transponder indicative of an amplitude of the current flowing in the at least one sensor coil and of a phase of the current relative to a phase of the electromagnetic fields, using the electrical energy derived from the RF driving field by the power coil;
transmitting the output signal from the wireless transponder using the power coil; and
receiving the output signal, and processing the amplitude and phase of the current indicated by the output signal to determine an orientation of the object. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47)
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48. A method for tracking an object, comprising:
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positioning a radio frequency (RF) driver to radiate a RF driving field toward the object;
positioning one or more field generators so as to generate electromagnetic fields in a vicinity of the object;
fixing to the object a wireless transponder comprising at least one sensor coil and a power coil, so that an electrical current flows in the at least one sensor coil responsive to the electromagnetic fields;
receiving the RF driving field using the power coil so as to derive electrical energy therefrom;
generating an output signal at the wireless transponder having an output frequency that varies responsive to an amplitude of the current flowing in the at least one sensor coil, using the electrical energy derived from the RF driving field by the power coil;
transmitting the output signal from the wireless transponder using the power coil; and
receiving and processing the output signal to determine coordinates of the object, responsive to the output frequency. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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Specification